3 best Kansas City Chiefs available on fantasy waiver wire in Week 9
By Jacob Milham
The bittersweet detail about this week's Kansas City Chiefs matchup against the Miami Dolphins is two-fold. The team's international affair means Kansas City plays on Sunday morning, rather than the afternoon or evening. But, on top of that, the Chiefs roll right into the bye week, and fans will go without seeing the AFC's best team until Nov. 20 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Sad.
Fantasy football and sports betting will continue to make Sundays interesting for those who partake. The season's midpoint means that fantasy managers are separating themselves in the standings, but tight races mean every little move counts more. If you are a sadist or participating in some odd challenge, maybe the Chiefs players have an option on your fantasy waiver wire.
1. Rashee Rice
Position rank: WR41
Roster %: 63.3%
Another week, another Rashee Rice appearance. Rice has slowly emerged as a yards-after-catch monster in Kansas City's offense, booming his fantasy value. He is clearly the Chiefs' WR1 at the season's midpoint, surpassing the veteran receivers on the roster. His 39 targets through Week 8 lead all Chiefs receivers and he has at least five targets in seven of eight games. That usage translates to the red zone, which matters the most in fantasy. His 10 targets within the opponent's 20 nearly double Skyy Moore in second place, while three of Rice's seven catches have been for touchdowns.
Rice is slowly catching fantasy managers' attention, so check to see if he is available in your league!
2. Noah Gray
Position Rank: TE26
Roster %: 1.0%
Mike Gesicki, Dawson Knox. Hayden Hurst. Those are just three of the many fellow tight ends that Noah Gray has outscored in fantasy so far this season. He has churned out a steady rate of scoring in fantasy, His 21 targets outpace veteran tight end Blake Bell but still trail Travis Kelce's workload. He has played in 60% of Kansas City's offensive snaps so far this season, showing that Andy Reid is getting the third-year player on the field. He lines up as a traditional tight end, but also in the slot or backfield. Gray is on pace to set career-highs in catches, yards, and even touchdowns.
Gray will always have a limited fantasy ceiling behind Kelce, but he is undoubtedly having a surprising first half of the 2023 season.
3. Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Position Rank: WR71
Roster %: 5.4%
Marquez Valdes-Scantling's toilet paper choice was making national news this week, but hopefully, a breakout game for the six-year veteran will redirect the spotlight on Sunday. He has consistently been Kansas City's WR2 or WR3 according to the snap count, and Patrick Mahomes looks to him on contested jump balls. His 18.9 yards per reception ranks second in Kansas City and that deep-ball ability keeps him in the fantasy conversation, deep in the waiver wire.
He had a horrid fantasy showing in Week 8 but is only two weeks removed from a 14.4-point Week 7. That output ranked sixth among all NFL wide receivers and better illustrates his fantasy ceiling. Hopefully, the long plane ride and a bye week will reinvigorate his fantasy value.
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